Bomb disposal officers attended the shopping centre after a call of an unidentified parcel.

Idlewells Shopping Centre in Sutton was evacuated by police at lunchtime today (Monday, May 23) and the area is cordoned off as army specialists were brought in to investigate the parcel reportedly found in a toilet block.

Emergency services at the scene which has now been made safe.

The incident follows reports from across the UK of numerous bomb threats made to 25 schools.

These include a message sent to Crabtree Farm Primary School in Bulwell - but Police said they were not treating the incidents as connected.

An officer said: "The incident at Crabtree was based on a telephone message that the school received - the school was evacuated and thoroughly searched and no package was found. Children returned to school at around 1.50pm."

Nottinghamshire police said officers reacted quickly to evacuate the area around the market square.

Market Street

The force said: "A suspicious package or unidentified item has been found in Idlewells Shopping Centre.

"To exercise precaution we have evacuated the centre."

"Our response unit is managing traffic control and ensuring people are at a safe distance."

Councillor Tom Hollis said Nottinghamshire County Councillors were receiving security briefings regularly on the situation.

He added: "The County Council has briefed members because it comes to us to decide if nearby buildings should be evacuated. In this instance, due to the relatively small size of the package, which is roughly the size of a shoe-box, the decision was made not to evacuate houses, and a cordon is in place.

"It's distressed people," he added. "Residents are frightened, but they're being understand that we have to be careful and we can't take any chances."

Shoppers gathered outside the centre after the evacuation.

Our reporter at the scene said alarms were continuing to sound in the area as the army operation continues

Nick Frame said: "Shop-keeepers are telling us that the alarms sounded at around 2 o clock - they've been told it could be hours until customers are let back into the centre.

"We've seen one of the specialists dressed in the 'Hurt Locker' style bomb disposal suit."

"This unit has now left and we've seen some members of staff return into the building, but no customers as yet."

"Hundreds of people are gathered around waiting to see what's happening and the alarms are still sounding over two hours after the call was made."

East Midlands Ambulance Service said crews were called to the scene but then called away, and it is believed no-one has been hurt int he incident.

A spokesperson said: "We have been asked to support the police in what appears to be a bomb threat. we have two crews who have attended but both have been called clear."